Switch socket



Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,599

G. M. coNDlT SWITCH SOCKET Filed May 18, 1926 Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,682,599 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. Com, F WATERVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 0F ONEHALAF T0 W. W. BOWERS, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

- SWITCH Application inea may 1s,

This invention relates to a switch socket of the type adapted to be used in conjunction with lighting fixtures for receiving en electric lamp bulb whether associated wlth a shade or used without a shade. I am aware that heretofore switch sockets for this purpose have been constructed in various manners and to be operated by numerous types of switches. In these switch sockets,'however, as heretofore constructed, there is a likelihood of short circuits which as will be understood is disadvantageous from many standpomts. The object of my present invention is the provision of a simply constructed substantially short circuit-proof switch socket, and to this end the same is preferably constructed to include a body member of suitable insulating material within which the operating parts of the switch and the lamp sock. et are contained, as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a section on line 1-1, Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan showing,lr the cap removed to illustrate the manner in which the operative parts are placed within the body member, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing the arrangement of the contact devices and taken at right angles to the position of these parts as shown in Fig. 1, on line 3-3 Fig. 2.

In the form of the invention as illustrated in the drawing, the switch socket made 1n accordance Vtherewith comprises a shell including a body member and a cap 11 therefor. Theseparts are made of any suitable insulatingr material. As i11ustrated, the body membei' 10 is provided at one end with a peripheral Heng@ 12 and a Concentrieally disposed circular rib 13. providing for en intermediate annular space 14 for the reception of a lamp shade which may be secured in position therein by means of set screws 15 or otherwise. This construction lprovides `for a .centrally disposed space or recess 16 adapted to receive a lamp socket as hereinafter described. The. cap 11 is preferably fitted with a tapped bushinf.,y 17 by means of which the switch socket may besutably connected to a fixture, a1- though as will be understood the switch socket may be suitably attached to a fixture in any desired manner. The body member 10 and the cap 11 are recessed to provide a space or chamber Within the same as indicated at 18 to receive and contain the operating partsof the switch es hereinafter described. Also4 as il= SOCKET.

1926. Serial No.. 109,818.

lustrated, the body member at the end opposite the fiange 12 is provided with ay shoulder 19 and the adjacent end of the cap 11 with a flange 20 adapted to fit over the shoulder 19 and the cap may be secured in positionA on the body member by means of screws 20 and 21 which are turned down in nuts 23 and 24 that. may be molded into place in the cap l1.v It will be understood that this means offconnecting the cap to the body member is only illustrative, as other similar and equivalent means may be employed for this purpose.

Secured in the body member there f is e terminal bracket 25 provided with av binding screw 26. Riveted or otherwise connected to the terminal bracket 25 there isa spring contact27 provided at its free extremity with a contact boss 28. ,'The terminal bracket 25 is secured in position by means ofra bolt 29 passing through a portion of the body member 10 and the inner end of the terminal Contact or otherwise. As indicated in Fig. 3, ,these members extend and lie within a portion of the chamber 18 in the body member 10. In this chamber and in a position oppositely disposed to the spring contact 27 there is a'spring contact 30. At itsfree end this springfconf tact 30 is provided with a contact boss 31, and the springr contact 30. as illustrated is secured in position by means of a bolt 32. The bolt-132 passes through the inner end of the4 spring contact, through a portion of the base of the body member 1,0,.and also through a disk 33 of insulating material placed at the inner end of the recess 1 6 and has connected thereto thecenter contact 34 for an electric lamp bulb'. The ,otherlamp bulb'terminal is the usual screwsocketi35 placed within the recess 16 and connected in position therein by a bolt 36, the head of which lies under the insulating disk .33, extends through a portion of the body member wand is connected to the other lead terminal 37-which is, secured in position thereby. This lead terminal 37 is provided with a binding screw 38 in the usual; manner.

Also fixed in position on the body member 10 there are brackets 39 and 40. As illustrated, these are secured in place by screws 41 and 42. The bracket 39` is provided with an extension 43. and the brackett with an extension 44. Theseextensions liewithin the chamber 18 and preferably a inst oppositely disposed Wa ls defining ,t e Same and are tted with a pinZ or shaft 45 upci. which lle' ywill be understood.y these conductor members may be of other form and secured in position in any desired manner. Intermediate of the conductor 'membersl47 the switch ratchet 46 is provided with a series corresponding in number with the conductor members of recesses 48`placed in corresponding positionsin the opposite sides thereof. The

switch ratcheti'sdispo'sed centrally between the extensions of the brackets 39 and 4() by washers 49 which are preferably made of inn sulating material and through which as will eoL be understood the pin or shaft 45 extends. The switch ratchetis placed so as to operate between the free ends'of the spring contact members 27 andO, and the contact. members 47 carried by the,l switch ratchet and the intermediate recesses in the switch ratchet are so placed as to be engaged successively by the bosses 28 and 31 at the free ends of these spring contacts whereby when the switch ratchetiis in those positions in which `one of the'conductormembers 47 lies intermediate of the bosses. 28 and' 31 the circuit will be closed from the terminal bracket Q through the spring Vcontact 27, through the adjacent conductor member "47 to thc'spring contact 30, thence to thecenter contact of the lamp bulb, through the lamp to the screwV socket 35, through thescrew 36' to the opposite terminal bracket 37. Whereas aswill be understood when the bosses 28 andy Blengaee in any of the recesses 48 intermediate 'of' thev conductor members inthe switch ratchet the circuit will bebrokcn between the spring contactmembers 28and 30. It willalso be un-` derstood that the bosscontacts 28 and 31 by engaging with the conductor members 47 yor with the recesses 48 coact therewith to form stops for the switchratchet to determine the extent of the4 movement thereof and t'ofmaintionsl' Thel switch ratchet 46 is preferably operated by a leverl50. This lever'Q is mounted v p, tainthefsame in any one of itsrevoluble posinu, l i

on a' pm or shaft'l journaled adjacent its,`

ends 'inthe side members cfa bracket 52 fitting within a portion of the chamber 18 in the body member 10. The bracket 52 is secured in position by having the end portions 53 and 54 thereof secured in place by means ofscrews 55 and 56` or otherwise. Fitting acrossA the inner end andextendingalong theV adjacent sides of the/lever 50 `there'is a yoke 57 through the side members of which the pin or shaft 51 also passes. In the cross memberof the bracket 52thereis a'notch 58 for the reception of a portion of the yoke 57 whereby this end portion of the lnacket acts as a stop for the lever 50 and the parts associated therewith. The lever is maintained in a normal position by means of a spring 59 which extends between the inner or lower end of the yoke 57 and a pin GO fixed in the body member 10. As illustrated, this spring 59 passes througha recess 61 provided therefor in the bodvmembe'r so that the piu G0 is placed at the base of the annular recess 14 in order to bereadily accessible,

The lever 50 is fitted with a plunger (12 which lies within a recess (58 provided therefor inthe lever. The inner or forward end ofthe leveras indicated at G4 is'adaptcd to engage with the teethof the switch ratchet to operate the same when the lever is actuated. This end of i the plunger extends through an aperture provided therefor inthe face of the yoke 57 vwithin which and lying within the recess 63 the plunger is provided with a rib65 which limits the outward movement thereof. The plunger is normally maintained in position with the rib Glagainst the inner surface of the yoke 57 by means of a spring 6G which extends from the base of the recess, partially surrounds the plunger, and at its opposite end bears against the rib (i5. The lever 5() extends througha notch 67 provided therefor in thewalls ofi the body member and its cap 11and at itsoutcr end may be provided with an aperture 68 for the uttachincir` `thereto of a chain or cord for operating the lever when the same is out ol` normal reach of the operator.

The usual lead wires from the source of supply are conveyed from the fixture through the bushing 17 and secured to the terminal brackets and l37 as'indi'cated at (i9 and 7 O, and then' Sit will be understood the switch socket may be fixed injposition. In the operation ofthe switch socket when the lever 5() is swung downwardly as'viewed in Fig. 1, the inner end of the plunger 62 engages one of the teeth of the switch ratchet so that in completing the downward vmovement of the lever theswitch ratchet is turned a partial revolution sufficiently far Vto move the switch ratchet to cause the disengagement' of the boss contacts 28' and 31 from one of the conductor members 47 to the next pair of recesses 48 or from apair of'reccssesto the next conductor members, the switch ratchet being maintained in `position bythe frictional contact of the said bosscontactsand the conductor members or the saidrecesses. In the return movement of the lever to its normal position the plunger 62 is, moved inwardly and the rounded extremity of the end 64 thereof slides over and from the adjacent face of the switch ratchet, as will `be readily understood.

Iclaim as my invention:

1. In as'witch socket, a body of insulating materiahspaced spring contacts therein, a revoluble member mounted between the Said lill spaced spring contacts and adapted to make and break an electrical circuit between the same, a lever mounted in the body member, and a plunger yieldingly mounted in the said lever for operating the said revoluble member.

2. In a switch socket, a body of insulating material, spaced spring contacts therein, a

Y revoluble member mounted between the said spaced spring contacts and adapted to make and break an electrical circuit between the same, a lever, means for normally maintaining the lever in an initial position, a plunger, and means for yieldingly maintaining the plunger in an initial position in the said lever, the plunger being adapted upon the operation of the lever to engage the revoluble member to turn the same a predetermined portion of a revolution. y

3. In a switch socket, a body of insulating material, spaced spring contacts therein, a ratchet mounted to turn between the said spaced spring contacts, a plurality of spaced conductor members each extending through the ratchet and adapted to cooperate with the spaced spring contacts to close a circuit between the same and also to normally maintain the ratchet in a predetermined position, a lever pivotally mounted in the body member, means for normally maintaining the lever in an initial position,4 and a plunger movable in the said lever and adapted to engage the said ratchet to impart a partial revolution thereto upon the actuation of the said lever.

4. In a switch socket, a body of insulating material, spaced spring contacts therein, a ratchet mounted to turn between the said spaced spring contacts, a plurality of spaced conductor members each extending through the ratchet and adapted to cooperate with the spaced spring contacts to close a circuit between the same and also to normally maintain the ratchet in a predetermined position, the said ratchet being provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed recesses also adapted to cooperate with the said spaced spring contacts to maintain the ratchet in positions intermediate of those in which the said conductor members in the ratchet are engaged by the spaced spring contacts, a lever pivotally mounted in the body member, means for normally maintaining the lever in an initial position, a plunger carried by the lever, and means for normally maintaining the plunger in an initial position in the lever, the said plunger 1 being adapted upon the operation of the lever to engage with the said ratchet to impart a partial revolution thereto.

5. In a switch socket, a body of insulating material, lead terminals mounted therein, lamp terminals also mounted therein, spaced spring contacts therein, a ratchet mounted to turn between the said spaced spring contacts,-

conductor members extending in spaced positions between the opposite faces of the said ratchet and adapted to be engaged successively by the said spring contacts for completing an electric circuit, the ratchet being pro# lamp terminals and also from the other lamp Y terminal to the other lead terminal.

Signed by me this 26th day of April, 1926. GEORGE M. CONDIT. 

